YOUR VIEW: Jefferson County services benefit those who work but don't live in county

Are you against taxation without representation? How about representation (services) without taxation?

I live in Shelby County, but I worked in Birmingham for years and later in Homewood. In Birmingham, I paid a 1 percent city occupational tax and 0.5 percent Jefferson County occupational tax. When my office moved to Homewood, I paid only the 0.5 percent occupational tax to the county.

Was I happy about paying 1.5 percent for several years and then 0.5 percent for several more years in occupational taxes? No. But I realized I was benefiting from the services I received. I was happy to have police and fire protection, safe water, health department inspections, etc. I was thankful Jefferson County funded Cooper Green Mercy Hospital to treat indigent people.

Someone living in Shelby County but working in Jefferson County may complain about paying the 0.5 percent Jefferson County occupational tax. My response: You think you should receive Jefferson County services without paying for them? What if you were robbed in Jefferson County, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office looked at your home address and said: "I am sorry, you don't live in Jefferson County and you don't pay the occupational tax, which pays for my services, so you are on your own?"

Is it going to come to that?

Support state Sen. Jabo Waggoner's occupational tax bill. He has the courage to do what is right for the county.